RECENTLY I watched a TV documentary programme on killer elephants.

When African rangers rescued baby elephants orphaned by ivory poachers and released them back into the bush, some of them grew up to be delinquents or killers.

Apparently, the normal elephant family unit is well ordered and close-knit, the young being taught survival and social skills by the cows.

When the males mature into adolescence, any unruly behaviour is checked by the older bulls so between all members of the group social harmony is maintained. The rescued babies were not adopted into any family units, but were left to fend for themselves and did not receive the benefits of parenting.

That same evening I had a call from my elderly parents to say their car had been stolen from outside their home in Acomb and torched. It was their second car to be stolen and torched in two weeks and it comes after a succession of similar events in the area.

Add to that reports in the Evening Press of spitting at tourists, pigeon kicking and school vandalism (April 2) and it paints a picture of deteriorating social order.

It makes me wonder if there are similarities between the elephants left to run wild and our own species' adolescents? Could the cause of all these ills be the break-up of the family unit? Are social skills no longer being passed on to our children? The crimes above would suggest not.

Mr E Deighton,

Moorgate,

Holgate, York.

Updated: 16:57 Friday, April 11, 2003